Opinions on Hybrids.

[mickle]

The last bike I bought was a Trek FX 7.5 because it was the one that best fitted my needs and budget. I found out afterwards that it is a hybrid. Does this make it a poor choice and not suitable for my needs?

But is it really a hybrid though?

 

[youngoldbloke]

Trek say: "We call it a fitness bike" ........ I know someone with a 7.9FX - the £2K carbon version - seems to me it is essentially a flat bar triple version of the Madone. I agree with mickle, Hybrid is not a very useful description.

 

[Thomk]

I also love my "hybrid", marketed as a city commuter - a Charge Mixer. I bought a road bike 3 months ago and have used them both equally for my 11 mile each way commute since then. The Mixer has better brakes more reliable gears (alfine 8 gear hub) and is a little more stable in bad weather or rough ground. The road bike (Giant Defy 2) is just lighter, faster and more fun. So I pick the bike to match my mood and the weather. You need both

 

[Old Plodder]

These days there are hybrids & hybrids, by that I mean the origional heavier town bike type, & the newer fitness type hybrid.
The old ones used to be quite heavy, with long chainstays, which made them hard work uphill. The later lightweight hybrid, is more or less a road bike with flat bars & slightly bigger tyres. I have a CB COMP also, & it is a very nice bike, but still slower than a road bike for the same effort expended.
I also have a Raleigh Hybrid, which is more like the old type hybrid, this is good for town & commuting, it was also a lot cheaper than the CB.
Hybrids are a good choice for a first bike, as long as you know you can get better later, & then the hybrid becomes the town/winter bike.

 

[Norm]

Hybrid? Hybrid? What the **** is a hybrid?

It is a dreadful word and leads to all sorts of mistakes.

 

[Fifelad]

As previously mentioned, great bike if you cant decide what type of cycling your going to favour, and are going to see if you will actually use a bike regularly before "taking the plunge" onto something else. I personally have moved to become a roadie, but have the hybrid as a good alternative.

 

[mickle]

As previously mentioned, great bike if you cant decide what type of cycling your going to favour, and are going to see if you will actually use a bike regularly before "taking the plunge" onto something else. I personally have moved to become a roadie, but have the hybrid as a good alternative.

What is a hybrid?

 

[Linford]

My old Hybrid (Marin Fairfax) was a carbon forked, flat barred roadie with a more robust set of wheels and frame. It still had a weight penalty though for this, but was pretty good for what it was.

 

[Part time cyclist]

I got my specialized Sirrus back in April 2011 after riding around on a Halfords specially appolo hardtail mountain bike. It turned out to me to be the best change I have ever made. Road speeds have increased from 12 mph to 17.5 mph average, since buying the base bike I have upgraded it a bit and fitted a tiagra front crank with road gearing. I have recommended hybrids to friends and family and 4 of us have now got specialized hybrids an two have got drop bar bikes. The roadies have mixed emotion regarding their bikes and are contemplating n+1. We are all doing the London to Brighton in June as well, bring it on can't wait..... P. s I love my bike......

 

[Dave Martin]

Just bought myself a Viking hybrid and love it...my son now has my mtb.

Dave

 

[jdtate101]

When looking for a winter bike, I couldn't decide between a hybrid or a cyclocross bike. Eventually decided on the crosser as more of an all rounder. Crossers are essentially the same idea as hybrids just with drop bars, a bit more race geometry and built a bit tougher.